Motorcycle helmet with a spinal cord protective device

ABSTRACT

A motorcycle helmet is disclosed with a detachable spinal cord protective device or attachment, wherein the protective device or attachment is a detachable collar that, for example, snaps to the inside of the helmet and closes at the front neck with a securing mechanism, such as a Velcro™ strap. A motorcycle helmet with a spinal cord protection extension is also disclosed, wherein the extension comprises an elongation in the back to the base of the neck. Also disclosed is a half-helmet with spinal cord protection, wherein a securing mechanism, such as a Velcro™ strap, provides closure around the neck. The disclosed variation in motorcycle helmets enables full range of motion to the sides and front but not to the back of the head, insuring neck protection upon impact.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application 60/988,141 filed Nov. 15, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of protective headgear, such as helmets. More specifically, the present invention is related to a motorcycle helmet with a spinal cord protective device.

2. Discussion of Prior Art

Numerous instances of spinal injuries are reported in cases even when either a full-face helmet or a half-face helmet is used. The prior art helmet systems currently available in the market fail to provide proper protection to the spinal cord. Whatever the precise merits, features, and advantages of such known half- and full-face helmets, none of them achieves or fulfills the purposes of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in a first embodiment, provides for a motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protective device or attachment, wherein the protective device or attachment is a detachable collar that, in one embodiment, snaps to the inside of the helmet and closes at the front neck with a securing mechanism, such as a Velcro™ strap. The present invention's motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protective device or attachment allows for full range of head motion to the sides and front, except to the back of the head, insuring neck protection upon impact.

In the first embodiment, the device comprises a full-face helmet with a base modified to engage a snap-fit arrangement, and a U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment, wherein the spinal cord protection attachment engages the full-face helmet via the snap fit arrangement, and the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment has a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such as Velcro™) for securing the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment around a subject's neck.

The present invention, in a second embodiment, provides a motorcycle helmet integrated with a spinal cord protection extension, wherein the extension comprises an elongation in the back to the base of the neck. The motorcycle helmet in this embodiment enables full range of motion to the sides and front but not to the back of the head, insuring neck protection upon impact. It should be noted that, unlike the first embodiment, the elongation in this embodiment is not detachable.

In the second embodiment, the present invention provides for a full-face helmet, wherein the improvement comprises a U-shaped spinal cord protection extension that is integrated into a standard full-face helmet, wherein the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment has a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such as Velcro™) for securing the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment around a subject's neck.

The present invention, in a third embodiment, provides a half-helmet with spinal cord protection, wherein a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such as Velcro™) provides closure around the neck.

In the third embodiment, the device comprises a half-face helmet with a base modified to engage a snap-fit arrangement, and a U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment, wherein the spinal cord protection attachment engages the half-face helmet via the snap fit arrangement, and the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment has a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such as Velcro™) for securing said U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment around a subject's neck.

The exterior of the U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment is made of any of the following: Kevlar, Nylon, or leather and the interior of the U-shaped spinal cord protection device is made up of a plurality of thin vertically standing titanium strips, said titanium strips providing interior reinforcement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a-b, 2 a-b, and 3 a-b illustrate various views of a motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protection according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 a-b and 5 a-b illustrate various views of a motorcycle helmet with a spinal cord protection extension according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6 a-b and 7 a-b illustrate a various views of a half-helmet with spinal cord protection according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment, the device may be produced in many different configurations, forms and materials. There is depicted in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and the associated functional specifications for its construction and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations within the scope of the present invention.

The present invention, in a first embodiment, provides for a motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protective device or attachment, wherein the protective device or attachment is a detachable collar that, in one embodiment, snaps to the inside of the helmet and closes at the front neck with a securing mechanism, such as a Velcro™ strap. The present invention's motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protective device or attachment allows for full range of head motion to the sides and front, except to the back of the head, insuring neck protection upon impact.

In the first embodiment, the present invention's device comprises a full-face helmet with a base modified to engage via, for example, a snap-fit arrangement, and a U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment, wherein the spinal cord protection attachment engages the full-face helmet via the snap fit arrangement, and the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment has a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such as Velcro™) for securing the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment around a subject's neck.

FIG. 1 a illustrates a right side view of a full-face motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protection 102 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 b illustrates a left side view of a motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protection 102 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 a illustrates a front view of a full-face motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protection 102 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 b illustrates a back view of a motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protection 102 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 a illustrates a left side ¾ view of a full-face motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protection 102 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 b illustrates in-motion detaching of the protective device 102 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The U-shaped spinal cord protection device 102, as shown in FIG. 3 b, includes a flap 104 that holds part of engagement mechanism (e.g., part of snap fit mechanism) that is used to retain the spinal cord protection device 102 to the full-face helmet. In FIG. 3 b, the engagement mechanism is a snap fit mechanism. However, other variations such as (but not limited to) hooks and Velcro™ are considered within the scope of the invention. In a broad context, a male component disposed on the flap 104 engages with a female counterpart inside the full-face helmet, or vice versa.

Also shown in FIG. 3 b is a zipper mechanism 106 that provides access to the interior of the spinal cord protection device 102. In one extended embodiment, such access is used to place an airbag mechanism (not shown) that, upon impact, triggers the release of an airbag in the space enclosed by the U-shaped spinal cord protection device to protect a subject's neck. The airbag mechanism can be a CO₂ cartridge that inflates a small airbag upon impact. The size of the airbag is preferably the shape of a banana, wherein the airbag extends from ear-to-ear.

The present invention, in a second embodiment, provides a full-face helmet (e.g., a full-face motorcycle helmet) with a spinal cord protection extension, wherein the extension comprises an elongation in the back to the base of the neck. The motorcycle helmet in this embodiment enables full range of motion to the sides and front but not to the back of the head, insuring neck protection upon impact. It should be noted that, unlike the first embodiment, the elongation in this embodiment is not detachable.

In the second embodiment, the present invention provides for a full-face helmet, wherein the improvement comprises a U-shaped spinal cord protection extension that is integrated into a standard full-face helmet, wherein the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment has a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such as Velcro™) for securing the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment around a subject's neck.

FIG. 4 a illustrates a right side view of a motorcycle helmet with a spinal cord protection extension 402 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 b illustrates a left side view of a motorcycle helmet with a spinal cord protection extension 402 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 a illustrates a front view of a motorcycle helmet with a spinal cord protection extension 402 for impact resistance and a hanging chinstrap according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 b illustrates a back view of a motorcycle helmet with a spinal cord protection extension 402 for impact resistance according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention, in a third embodiment, provides a half-helmet with spinal cord protection, wherein a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such as Velcro™) provides closure around the neck.

In the third embodiment, the present invention's device comprises a half-face helmet with a base modified to engage a snap-fit arrangement, and a U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment, wherein the spinal cord protection attachment engages the half-face helmet via the snap fit arrangement, and the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment has a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such as Velcro™) for securing said U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment around a subject's neck.

FIG. 6 a illustrates a right side view of a half-helmet with spinal cord protection 602 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 b illustrates a left side view of a half-helmet with spinal cord protection 602 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 a illustrates a front view of a half-helmet with spinal cord protection 602 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 b illustrates a back view of a half-helmet with spinal cord protection 602 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In all three embodiments, the U-shaped spinal cord protection device is made of a Nylon, Kevlar, or leather exterior with a reinforced interior. An example of the interior reinforcement material is a plurality of thin titanium strips. The flap 104 in FIG. 3 b also can be made of Nylon, Kevlar, or leather, and can either be a single piece along with the exterior material of the U-shaped protection device, or can be attached (e.g., stitched) onto the exterior material of the U-shaped protection device.

CONCLUSION

An apparatus has been shown in the above embodiments for the effective implementation of a motorcycle helmet with a spinal cord protective device. While various preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. For example, the present invention should not be limited by size of the protection device, type of materials of the protection device, or specific manufacturing techniques. 

1. A device comprising: a. a full-face helmet with a base modified to engage a snap-fit arrangement; and b. a U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment, said spinal cord protection attachment engaging said full-face helmet via said snap fit arrangement, said U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment having a securing mechanism for securing said U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment around a subject's neck.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein securing mechanism comprises hook and loop fasteners.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein dimensions of said U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment are picked to fully cover a neck region, thereby providing protection to the spinal cord in said neck region.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein exterior of said U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment is made of any of the following: Kevlar, Nylon, or leather and interior if said U-shaped spinal cord protection device is made up of a plurality of thin titanium strips, said titanium strips providing reinforcement.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment further includes an access mechanism providing access to interior of said U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment for placement of an airbag deployment mechanism that deploys an airbag around said subject's neck upon impact, said airbag extending from ear-to-ear of said subject.
 6. A full-face helmet, wherein the improvement comprises: a U-shaped spinal cord protection extension integrated into said standard full-face helmet, said U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment having a securing mechanism for securing said U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment around a subject's neck.
 7. The full-face helmet of claim 6, wherein securing mechanism comprises hook and loop fasteners.
 8. The full-face helmet of claim 6, wherein dimensions of said U-shaped spinal cord protection extension are picked to fully cover a neck region, thereby providing protection to the spinal cord in said neck region.
 9. The full-face helmet of claim 6, wherein exterior of said U-shaped spinal cord protection extension is made of any of the following: Kevlar, Nylon, or leather and interior if said U-shaped spinal cord protection device is made up of a plurality of thin titanium strips, said titanium strips providing reinforcement.
 10. The full-face helmet of claim 6, wherein said U-shaped spinal cord protection extension further includes an access mechanism providing access to interior of said U-shaped spinal cord protection extension for placement of an airbag deployment mechanism that deploys an airbag around said subject's neck upon impact, said airbag extending from ear-to-ear of said subject.
 11. A device comprising: a. a half-face helmet with a base modified to engage a snap-fit arrangement; and b. a U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment, said spinal cord protection attachment engaging said half-face helmet via said snap fit arrangement, said U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment having a securing mechanism for securing said U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment around a subject's neck.
 12. The device of claim 7, wherein securing mechanism comprises hook and loop fasteners.
 13. The device of claim 7, wherein dimensions of said U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment are picked to fully cover a neck region, thereby providing protection to the spinal cord in said neck region.
 14. The device of claim 7, wherein exterior of said U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment is made of any of the following: Kevlar, Nylon, or leather and interior if said U-shaped spinal cord protection device is made up of a plurality of thin titanium strips, said titanium strips providing reinforcement.
 15. The device of claim 7, wherein said U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment further includes an access mechanism providing access to interior of said U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment for placement of an airbag deployment mechanism that deploys an airbag around said subject's neck upon impact, said airbag extending from ear-to-ear of said subject. 